rationality
noun
ra·tio·nal·i·ty
ˌra-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 
plural rationalities
1
: the quality or state of being rational
2
: the quality or state of being agreeable to reason : reasonableness
3
: a rational opinion, belief, or practice
—usually used in plural
Examples of rationality in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kahneman upended assumptions about rationality that had dominated economics for decades.
—
Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist whose work casting doubt on the rationality of decision-making helped spawn the field of behavioral economics and won him a Nobel Prize, has died.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Only time will tell but hope remains that the Great Farmer Revolt will bring some semblance of rationality to Europe’s climate policies.
—Tilak Doshi, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The interplay between instinct and rationality influences our decisions, particularly in relationships.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Her memoir The Year of Magical Thinking demonstrates how unrealistic that expectation is, even for someone who made cool, detached rationality her entire persona.
—Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2024
And the third act hits you like a third martini: You are dragged along on the potent tide, buoyed by memories of former rationality, grasping at understanding.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2024
For us, rationality has both an individual and a collective dimension.
—Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
In other words, the mere presence of deliberation does not necessarily lead to greater rationality.
—Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist whose work casting doubt on the rationality of decision-making helped spawn the field of behavioral economics and won him a Nobel Prize, has died.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Only time will tell but hope remains that the Great Farmer Revolt will bring some semblance of rationality to Europe’s climate policies.
—Tilak Doshi, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The interplay between instinct and rationality influences our decisions, particularly in relationships.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Her memoir The Year of Magical Thinking demonstrates how unrealistic that expectation is, even for someone who made cool, detached rationality her entire persona.
—Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2024
And the third act hits you like a third martini: You are dragged along on the potent tide, buoyed by memories of former rationality, grasping at understanding.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2024
For us, rationality has both an individual and a collective dimension.
—Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
In other words, the mere presence of deliberation does not necessarily lead to greater rationality.
—Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rationality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rationality
Cite this Entry
“Rationality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rationality. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rationality
noun
ra·tio·nal·i·ty
ˌrash-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē
: the quality or state of being rational
Medical Definition
rationality
noun
ra·tio·nal·i·ty
ˌrash-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē
plural rationalities
1
: the quality or state of being rational
2
: the quality or state of being agreeable to reason
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